Running Sock Total

Ok, so far the running total of socks is:
1 pair multi-color self striping, toe up, lacy socks. D2 wears them to school even though they are way too huge for her. She has cabbaged onto them in a big way. They look very interesting with her bohemian denim, calico, and lace skirt and her black Mary Jane shoes. Yeah, and you thought your mother dressed you funny.

1 pair black, alpaca and silk, top down socks. Sister in Law #5 was admiring them when they were partway done. They might make very comfortable Labor & Delivery socks, but I'm not sure how well they would wash out. Eeeeewwwww, gross! I'm still thinking, got a couple of weeks before the due date. Really, how can you refuse a pregnant woman?

1 pair barely started socks that got sent off to Sock Goddess in Sock Wars 2006. I died so early, it was pitiful.

Started, unfinished:
1 baby soft pastel & white DK sock toe
1 variegated baby pastel sock that I started in 1983. Red Heart yarn. I did get the baby hat finished for Baby #1 to wear home from the hospital. So there.

Started, and then ripped back completely
1 pair burgundy silk & wool

Enough confession. If I find more, I'll add them later. No guilt! None. really. I think.

A second try at Sock Wars Socks:
I know I was soundly defeated early on in Sock Wars, but,
I'm part of the Never Say Die group
So
I started another pair of Sock Wars Socks using the same pattern, but these are for myself. I think. The top cast on edge seems to be a little tight for my chubby calves.
But, they're in KnitPicks beautiful Elegance. Alpaca and silk. It feels so good to knit this. I'm doing bost socks at once, top down on two circular bamboo needles. I've gone back and forth between one and two needles a couple of times so far.
Last night I started the heel flap, so we'll see how it goes.
(Post Photo Here)

Sock Wars Brutal ....

Wow, Sock Wars was rough on me! As a neophyte sock knitter, I was killed off so fast it was embarrassing. I am so mortified. But, I will have my revenge someday.
I'm going into training, after a recovery period at an undisclosed knitter's rehab center, to be ready to enter the next Sock Wars as an experienced veteran.

As inspiration, I am wearing my wonderful Butternut color KnitPicks classic wool socks every chance I get. Since sending off my pitiful partially started pair of socks to be finished by my very kind and talented assassin, the generous Sock Goddess, I have started no less than 4 pairs of socks and finished one pair. DH knows I have lost my mind, but he's really perplexed by this behavior.

I need a 12 step program to get through this. This blogging is part of the therapy.
Thanks for visiting!

Ordering from Knit Picks

Mock Crock Socks
I haven’t started these yet, but I downloaded the pattern by Susan Lawrence from Knit Picks and ordered some green Essential yarn. Now, I just realized that the pattern calls for Size 1 Dpns. Did I remember to order them? Did I plan on finding them in my stash? (Good Luck!) Organization is the Bane of my existence at this time.
Anyway, a young man I know has the “hot green” Crocks, and I thought a pair of green Mock Crock Socks would just be too cool! Now, the question is: will I finish them, and I guess it’s a second question: will I finish them while those Crocks still fit and are still in style, and before it snows?

Total Immersion in Socks

Ok, I took my first actual sock class.
Well, actually, once before, I took a sock class where the teacher was using 3 dpns and hand spun yarn, and the socks were going to end up felted later. I never got very far with that one.
Anyway, this is a 2 circs class. Very cool. Teensey Tinsy stitches!
So, I have a total of 5 socks started right now:
1 toe up individual sock, shown in the photos, to practice the figure 8 cast on that just sounds sooooo cooooool. But, it hasn't gone any farther.
2 toe up on 2 circs that really are flying: photos soon. They really deserve their own post.
2 top down on: 1 on 2 circs and 1 on one circ. We started the 1 on 2 circs in class and I tried (foolishly) to start the second sock of that pair on a 12" needle that I'm hopeing to then transfer over to the 2 circs with the first sock on the pair when I get it up to the same number of rows.

Anyway, I've also ordered from KnitPicks and waiting somewhat patiently for that to come.

But, of course, I don't have any DK yarn that I can lay my hands on right now. I'm sure it's in my stash somewhere: choice of several closets, 2 atics, storage bins galore. I really want to put it all in one place, but I think the fear of seeing all those Tribbles together is just overwhelming.

And, I really have to wait 'till the DH won't be there to watch the chaos.

First Try - a Figure 8 Cast On & Toe

This is my first cast on using a figure 8 for a Toe Up sock.
I'm not really happy with the increases. They look lop sided.
I think I need to learn a "left increase" and a "right increase".

Posting links to Sock Sites

Since this is the page where I'll be chronicling my sock knitting adventures, it will also serve as the place to collect all the best Sock Sites and links.
FiberQat has a blog and a really good Toe Patch start for Toe Up socks. I had the link once and lost it just as I was wanting to really dive into this. Hence the need for a list that I can access from anywhere. Ahhh, the wonders of the internet.
Enjoy

Ruby - Rough

This is what an uncut Ruby looks like:

If it's undamaged, it will be a hexagonal crystal.

Saphires are the same, only blue.

If they aren't Red or Blue, they're still saphires.

They can be gray, beige or brown, and end up being on your Emery Board nail file.

They are also known as Corundum, Al2 O3, and Emery.

Just so you know.

First Post, Phase Three

The Third phase of Ruby In The Rough.
Where we will discuss Socks and Knitting and other associated topics.
Under Construction until 09/04/2006: Labor Day, USA